Lionel Messi now has his first ever World Cup title at 35 years old to add to his already-stacked resume.
One of the most common terms used when analyzing players during the 2022 FIFA World Cup was “caps.”
No, this does not refer to a type of hat a player is wearing. Rather, it is a term associated with their senior national team.
Let’s take a deep dive into the phrase’s history and how it is used today:
What do caps mean in soccer?
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
Caps in soccer refer to the number of appearances a player has made with their senior national team, so their club is not affiliated with this number.
The term is said to have originated from the United Kingdom, when players were awarded physical caps to mark their involvements in international matches. Though those physical caps are a thing of the past, it is still one of the highest honors a player can achieve in the sport.
How does a player earn a cap?
A player can earn a cap only by playing in an international game. Simply being named to the squad is not enough, as a player must log minutes in a certain game to count.
What types of games count as a cap?
According to FIFA’s regulations handbook, caps are only awarded in International “A” games, which are the following: World Cup games, World Cup qualifiers, continental competitions and its qualifying games, friendly games between senior national teams and Olympic games and its qualifiers.
Who has the most caps in soccer history?
As of Dec. 18, 2022, Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait and Cristiano Ronaldo have the most caps in soccer history with 196.
T-1. Bader Al-Mutawa, Kuwait: 196
T-1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: 196
3.Soh Chin Ann, Malaysia: 195
4. Ahmed Hassan, Egypt: 184
5. Ahmed Mubarak, Oman: 183
6. Sergio Ramos, Spain: 180
Who has the most caps in USMNT history?
Former midfielder Cobi Jones has the most caps in USMNT history with 164. Here are the top five players with the most caps in USMNT history:
1. Cobi Jones: 164
2. Landon Donovan: 157
3. Michael Bradley: 151
4. Clint Dempsey: 141
5. Jeff Agoos: 134
Which current USMNT player has the most caps?
The USMNT has taken a youth-based approach the last few years after missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and that is reflected on the list of current players with the most caps.
Following a round of 16 exit in Qatar, right back DeAndre Yedlin is the current USMNT player with the most caps with 74, which ranks 31st in the team’s history. Here are the top five:
1. DeAndre Yedlin: 77
2. Gyasi Zardes: 67
3. Christian Pulisic: 56
4. Kellyn Acosta: 55
5. Jordan Morris: 51
